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April Fly of the Month

Here we have the April fly of the month from PRO-Team member Paul Procter. To see the fly of the month for March, click here.

To all intents and purpose this shuttlecock is merely a Wyatt DHE sporting a CdC wing rather then the more usual deer hair. Although a generic pattern, in the sizes quoted here it's well suited to copying Large Dark Olives and Olive Uprights, both of which occur through April. Granted, such a delicate tying wouldn't be my first choice in tumbling pools, but faced with dimpling trout on smooth, oily flats this emerger comes into its own.

A curve helps achieve that all important posture of an upwinged nymph on the cusp of transforming. Do bear in mind your leader will have some influence here by slightly tilting your fly forward, resulting in a more horizontal hook as opposed to that vertical position we tend to visualise.

Be sure to utilise one of the softer dubbings which compacts more readily, therefore forming a neat, streamlined body to help penetrate a stubborn surface film. All too often beginners make the mistake of incorporating more wiry dubbings like seal's fur for example. Such an explosion of fur is fine on traditional wet flies, yet has no place here. A thread rib might only be just visible, yet this becomes more obvious on a sodden fly.

How many CdC hackles you include as a wing is pretty much personal choice. As a guide, I'm happiest with two plumes. Although on faster parts of a stream, or when nagging drizzle persists then a fly boasting three CdC feathers is often a better call. A tad softer than hare's fur, though still possessing a good mix of stippled guard hairs, pine squirrel has become a favourite of mine, especially when forming thoraxes on both dries and nymphs.